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I have been a Doula in Albuquerque since 2000, assisting Moms who have elected to give birth in their homes as well as in the hospital. I am trained as a Hypno-Doula, helping couples who have taken a wide range of childbirth classes, including various Hypnosis for Childbirth classes, especially HypnoBirthing and HypnoBabies.
What is a Doula?
A Doula is a non-medical, professionally trained labor support person. She provides physical, emotional and informational support to the laboring mother. Her sole purpose is to help the birthing woman have a safe and satisfying birth experience. She is a constant companion for the laboring woman throughout her birthing. Her role varies with each birth, however, it usually includes:
• Help and advice on comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, movement and positioning
• Assistance in relaxation by using massage and other non-pharmacological comfort measures
• Continuous emotional reassurance
• Providing information on medical procedures
• Helping the birthing couple gather information about the course of their labor and their options
• Being a back-up for Dad (or birthing companion) when he needs a break
• Assistance in creating a birth plan
“If a doula were a drug, it would be malpractice not to use it.”
Dr. John Kennell as quoted by Christiane Northrup in her video Giving Birth: Challenges and Choices.
Benefits of a Doula
World-wide studies have shown that using a Doula will:
- Reduce the total labor time by as much as 50%
- Reduce the use of epidurals by 16% and other pain medications by 35%
- Reduce the use of synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) by 71%
- Reduce the use of forceps delivery by 57%
- Reduce the rate of cesarean sections by 50%
- Improve breastfeeding success
- Reduce the incidence of postpartum depression
- Improve the level of birthing satisfaction
- Decrease problems in the newborns
Ease
your mind before, during, and after your birth
Body and Soul Magazine, 2002, "Better Birthing" This is a very good article that discusses how Doulas and HypnoBirthing® techniques are helping moms to be take a more natural, less painful route to having a baby.
THE NEW YORK TIMES has run an article on DOULAS titled "'Mothering the Mother' During Childbirth, and After". Read what doulas do and do not do and how they benefit a birthing Mom.
My Doula services include:
- In-depth Prenatal consultation
- Unlimited phone consultations
- Assistance with designing your Birth Plan
- On-call 24/7 2 weeks prior to your expected due date
- Continual support at your birth and immediately afterward
- Assistance in initiating breastfeeding
- Postpartum visit to answer any questions you might have about your birthing
LET'S MEET at a FREE tea sponsored by Doulas of the Southwest
Every 2nd Saturday
of the month 10am at The Source
1111 Carlisle SE. behind Michael Thomas Coffee House
also at the HypnoBirthing Discussion
every 2nd Thursdays of each month from 7-8PM
at the Birth Network
facility at 123 Wellsley NE (corner of Silver and Wellsley)
Joleen Streit, MA, CHt, HBCE, CD(DONA)
Nurturing Mom Doula Services
1453 Rio Rancho Blvd., Ste. E
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
(505)892-1313
I'm listed at DoulaNetwork.com